Developing the grass in your yard for increasing free ranging nutrition

[CrzyMexican]

Was looking at this and saw a post on fruit/nut based elements in the free ranges, my question is this, what are the kind of fruits or nuts is acceptable for them to eat, i have several fruit and nut trees in my yard that i will free range them.
-DJP

 

[Beekissed]

I really envy you guys with enough room to free range. My yard is not even big enough for the dog to really run in, and the coop/run is good for 4 hens, but not big enough for grow frames if I want to walk around and clean up. Approx 14X8 but not a true rectangle as I had to go around an OLD apple tree (too bad they don't care much for apples). Plus, it is shaded in the am (rats), and this time of year gets fair sun in the pm. I try to give then a variety of veggies and greens and scatter a small amount of scratch to keep them pecking around. Occasionally I put up portable dog runs and let them out on the grass. But I love reading these threads and dreaming of a bigger place.

Mine LOVE apples! We stored many apples from this year for winter feeding and am currently throwing them 3-4 a day in the coop to keep them busy when the snow is on too deep for any foraging. The cheap meat roosters are finding the apples good for eating as well and it keeps them occupied too.

You might cut a few of those apples open for them so they get the idea of what is inside of them and they should eat them just fine.

 

[Aphrael]

Mine were a bit iffy about apples at first (they are about most everything at first). But once I got them to actually taste it they loved it and they gobble them up whenever I have some to give them.

 

[pegm]

Well, first I quartered them, then I sliced them, then I diced them, I figured next I would have to grind them up.

I gave them good apples, bad apples, mushy apples. Sigh. I will keep trying, because the apple tree we have isn't very good, as the apples are mushy (which DH and I don't care for). Maybe if I mashed them a little and let them get a good taste, it may work. They of course did pick out the seeds.

 

[Aphrael]

Well, first I quartered them, then I sliced them, then I diced them, I figured next I would have to grind them up.

I gave them good apples, bad apples, mushy apples. Sigh. I will keep trying, because the apple tree we have isn't very good, as the apples are mushy (which DH and I don't care for). Maybe if I mashed them a little and let them get a good taste, it may work. They of course did pick out the seeds.

Maybe if you mash or grind/grate them and then mix them together with something they really like. Then they have to taste the apple to get to the stuff they want. They can be trained to eat things even if they don't take to them right away.

 

[pegm]

I will give that a try...any suggestions for kale and chard? They just look at it. I've torn it up and I've hung it up. they are like "meh". I thought if they liked chard I would grow some this winter, as I will have an open bed when the tomatoes are finished. Yes, I still have tomatoes. Which they LOVE.

 

[Aphrael]

I will give that a try...any suggestions for kale and chard? They just look at it. I've torn it up and I've hung it up. they are like "meh". I thought if they liked chard I would grow some this winter, as I will have an open bed when the tomatoes are finished. Yes, I still have tomatoes. Which they LOVE.

Oh yeah mine go berserk for tomatoes. I haven't given mine kale or chard yet, but I plan to grow some in their gardens. I would say if they won't try them you could do something like with the apples, mix them together with something you know they like. If you still have some tomatoes for them you could try finely chopping kale/chard and tomatoes and tossing them together real well, like a chickie salad.

 

[pegm]

Mumbling.....this is getting really bizarre....Why yes, I could try that too......

. I really do want them to have healthy things to eat, so will try your suggestions....thank you so very much!

 

[BCMaraniac]

Oh yeah mine go berserk for tomatoes. I haven't given mine kale or chard yet, but I plan to grow some in their gardens. I would say if they won't try them you could do something like with the apples, mix them together with something you know they like. If you still have some tomatoes for them you could try finely chopping kale/chard and tomatoes and tossing them together real well, like a chickie salad.

I thought chickie salad had chickie in the salad, not salad in the chickie..

 

[Aphrael]

Mumbling.....this is getting really bizarre....Why yes, I could try that too......

. I really do want them to have healthy things to eat, so will try your suggestions....thank you so very much!

Yes I do some strange things for my furry and feathered friends. My chickies really like chopped sunflower and prickly pear salad. And I'm pretty sure there is very little they wouldn't do for their cold weather pick-me-up of oatmeal-egg custard with a dollop of jam or molasses.